Budd Lake
Budd Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 86 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 64.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 227.91 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 228 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 27
- Open water
- 250 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Budd Lake →
Next lake in Martin County
Budd Lake is a 228-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Martin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Martin County, Budd Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 86 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 64.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 86 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 64.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Budd Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Budd Lake in Martin County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Budd Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Budd Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Budd Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 111 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Budd Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 228 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 49% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Budd LakePublic
- Hall LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Budd Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-23 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 35.07 | 0.52 lb |
| SFS | 33.00 | — |
| YLB | 23.29 | 0.28 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 22.41 | 0.6 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.93 | 0.26 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 6.61 | 0.2 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
YLB
Freshwater Drum
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-04-23 survey
Located within the City of Fairmont in Martin County, the "Fairmont Chain of Lakes" is an impoundment of Center Creek which is a tributary to the Blue Earth River and includes, from upstream to downstream, Amber Lake (182 acres), Hall Lake (548 acres), Budd Lake (227 acres), Sisseton Lake (138 acres), and George Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Budd Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuddFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BuddFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BuddPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.073 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.79 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +6.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (102 observations).
Estimated open water season: 250 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1987-03-01 (1987) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-09
EPA Impairment Status
Budd Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN46-0030-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Budd Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Fairmont WtpFairmont · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MN0045527
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 12 lakes in Martin County
Nearby Lakes in Martin County
Frequently asked questions about Budd Lake
What is the water quality grade for Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 86 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 64.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 227.91 acres.
Is Budd Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Budd Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 64.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 111 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 227.91 acres.
What fish are in Budd Lake?
- Fish species found in Budd Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid crappie, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, quillback, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bass, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Budd Lake is located in Martin County, Minnesota.
When does Budd Lake thaw?
- Budd Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 27. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 250 days.
Are there boat ramps on Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Budd Lake, Hall Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Budd Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Martin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
103 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA103 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 3 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by fluorometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate